Langalethu's developmental record is ready. Start by tracking a few skills or logging an observation, and the growth picture will build here over time.
How to grow these skills — activities for this child
A balanced starter set across all six domains for this age — begin here, then assess. Every activity uses low-cost materials and shows how to make it easier or harder.
Calm Corner
Social & Emotional
Grows: Self-regulation and calming down safely instead of melting down or lashing out
You need: A quiet nook with a cushion or grass mat, one soft toy, a feelings picture. Very low cost.
How to do it ↓
Set aside a small, soft, low-stimulation corner away from busy play.
Introduce it calmly as a nice place to rest, never as punishment.
Teach one calming action there: hug the toy, or 'smell the flower, blow the candle' breathing.
Let children choose to go there and welcome them back gently when ready.
Watch for: Child begins to take themselves to the corner when overwhelmed and returns calmer, with fewer long tantrums over time.
Make it easier
Walk with the child to the corner and breathe with them until settled.
Extend it
Ask the child afterwards to say what upset them and what they could try next time.
My Family Collage
Identity & Belonging
Grows: Family identity and talking about the people who belong to me
You need: Cardboard, old magazines, family photos or crayons, homemade paste (flour + water). Low cost.
How to do it ↓
Give each child a piece of cardboard.
Let them draw, or stick photos/magazine pictures of their family.
Sit with each child as they tell you who is who.
Display all the collages at child height and celebrate the different families.
Watch for: Child names family members and talks about them with pride.
Make it easier
Help the child stick pre-cut pictures and name one or two people.
Extend it
Ask the child to draw what their family likes to do together and tell a short story.
Story Stones
Communication
Grows: Narrative, retelling and expressive vocabulary
You need: Smooth stones with simple pictures drawn on (sun, dog, house, girl), a cloth bag. Free.
How to do it ↓
Draw simple pictures on 6-10 stones.
Pull stones out one at a time and build a story together.
Let each child add the next stone and a sentence.
Retell the whole story at the end.
Watch for: Child adds ideas that follow on, uses new words and retells parts of the story.
Make it easier
Use 3 stones and start the story for them to finish one line.
Extend it
Let the child make up and tell the whole story alone, then draw a new stone.
Homemade Playdough Modelling
Creativity
Grows: 3D making, imagination and fine-motor strength
You need: Homemade dough: flour, salt, water, a little oil (colour with beetroot/spinach/ash). Very low cost.
How to do it ↓
Make dough together: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, water, a spoon of oil.
Let children squeeze, roll, pinch and flatten it.
Invite them to make anything they like.
Talk about what they made - never correct it.
Watch for: Child manipulates the dough with growing control and invents their own creations.
Make it easier
Focus on squeezing and poking; let them explore with no product expected.
Extend it
Suggest a challenge (make an animal, make a snake longer than your arm).
Obstacle Course - Over, Under, Through
Physical
Grows: Gross-motor coordination, balance and understanding position words
You need: Tyres, planks, boxes, a rope, chairs. Free.
How to do it ↓
Lay out a simple course: crawl through a box, step over a rope, walk a plank.
Show the way through, saying over, under, through, around.
Let each child go at their own pace.
Change the course to keep it interesting.
Watch for: Child moves through with growing control and understands the position words.
Make it easier
Make it shorter and lower and go alongside the child.
Extend it
Add balancing, jumping and timing, or let a child design the course.
Pattern Threading
Thinking & Reasoning
Grows: Recognising, copying and extending patterns (AB, then ABC)
You need: String/wool and threadable items: bottle tops with holes, macaroni, rolled paper beads. Free.
How to do it ↓
Start a simple pattern: red, blue, red, blue.
Say the pattern out loud and point to each bead.
Ask 'what comes next?' and let the child continue.
Wear the finished string with pride.
Watch for: Child continues an AB pattern and later makes their own.
Make it easier
Do an AB pattern with big beads and place the next one together.
Extend it
Move to ABC or ABB patterns and let the child invent one for a friend to copy.
Development across the six domains
Social & Emotional
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 7 not yet assessed
Track 7 skills ↓
Understands the reasons for rules and boundaries ELDA1 Aim5
Is more able to calm themselves and find different ways to solve problems ELDA1 Aim5
Is more able to take turns, follow simple rules and share ELDA2 Aim3
Functions independently and shows confidence in asking for support and guidance when needed ELDA2 Aim2
Shows empathy and offers comfort or help to others ELDA2 Aim1
Separates from the caregiver with confidence and settles into group activities ELDA2 Aim3
Expresses their own views and feelings and listens to those of others ELDA2 Aim1
Identity & Belonging
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 6 not yet assessed
Track 6 skills ↓
Becomes more aware of their own views and feelings and shows sensitivity to others ELDA2 Aim1
Develops an interest in and respect for their own and others' culture ELDA2 Aim1
Functions independently and confidently asks for support and guidance when needed ELDA2 Aim2
Dresses and undresses independently and manages personal hygiene ELDA2 Aim2
Understands and respects the differences between their own family and others ELDA2 Aim4
Is at ease in activities that celebrate differences ELDA2 Aim4
Communication
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 7 not yet assessed
Track 7 skills ↓
Listens to stories with concentration and tells more complex stories ELDA3 Aim1
Can carry out complex, multi-step instructions ELDA3 Aim1
Listens to others, takes part in conversations and asks questions ELDA3 Aim1
Is interested in finding rhyming words and uses past, present and future tenses ELDA3 Aim2
Arranges sets of pictures to form a story and makes up their own stories ELDA3 Aim3
Recognises their own written name ELDA3 Aim3
Draws patterns and letters and develops games that include literacy activities ELDA3 Aim4
Creativity
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 6 not yet assessed
Track 6 skills ↓
Asks 'Why', 'What', 'When' and 'How' questions and enjoys problem-solving games ELDA5 Aim1
Plays the same game and constructs the same project over several days ELDA5 Aim2
Often draws ground and sky lines as well as humans, animals and plants ELDA5 Aim3
Tells stories about their own creations ELDA5 Aim3
Plays in percussion bands (drums, shakers, triangles) along to music or their own creations ELDA5 Aim4
Invents stories to act out ELDA5 Aim4
Physical
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 8 not yet assessed
Track 8 skills ↓
Moves in more complex and coordinated ways, copying and initiating movements ELDA1 Aim4
Runs, climbs, balances and negotiates space with control ELDA1 Aim4; CAPS LS Physical Education
Handles pencils, crayons and scissors with increasing control to draw and cut ELDA1 Aim4
Dresses and undresses independently and manages own personal hygiene ELDA2 Aim2
Understands more about food groups, good nutrition and the effects of under- and mal-nutrition ELDA1 Aim1
Understands more about how disease is transmitted and can identify symptoms of illness and injury ELDA1 Aim2
Can identify and confidently report dangers in the environment ELDA1 Aim3
Gives personal details (name, age, address, contact number) to trusted people and knows not to give them to strangers ELDA1 Aim3
Thinking & Reasoning
0%
0 achieved · 0 emerging · 0 need support · 7 not yet assessed
Track 7 skills ↓
Counts concrete objects and finds similarities and differences ELDA4 Aim1
Sorts, classifies and makes comparisons, separating objects into equal and unequal groups ELDA4 Aim2
Solves simple problems related to immediate experiences ELDA4 Aim2
Describes positions such as in front, behind and on top ELDA4 Aim3
Explores, investigates and talks about objects and materials and asks how and why things work ELDA6 Aim1
Builds and constructs things using tools and techniques ELDA6 Aim2
Describes personal experiences with confidence and sequences events on a pictorial time-line ELDA6 Aim3
Developmental observations
No observations yet. Log the first one below — these build the child's developmental story.
